Crime Watch

Box-Cutting Burglars

Three men displayed box cutters before stealing merchandise from a clothing store. At 9:40 p.m. on Friday, October 18, three 30-year-old men entered a chain clothing store on Third Avenue and removed store merchandise after brandishing box cutters. One of the men told a store loss-prevention officer, "We poke you out!" Another said, "I don't have time for this shit!" The men then fled southbound on Third Avenue to an unknown location. Police searched the area but were unable to find the robbers. No cameras captured the theft. The items stolen were eight sheepskin men's vests valued at $1,200 and two pairs of Stapleford boots valued at $79, making a total of $1,279.

So Much for Diplomacy

A high-school student was arrested after stealing a nurse's cell phone. At 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, a 47-year-old female nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital left her cell phone on her desk while she went to the ICU unit next door. When she returned, her phone was gone. She told police her son then sent a message to her phone and the robber responded, saying he had purchased the phone for $300 and would negotiate a price. The robber next contacted the nurse while she was reporting the incident at the police station house, and the officer who answered the phone heard the defendant say, "I will give back the phone for $250." The defendant later met the arresting officer at an agreed-upon location and attempted to sell the phone to the officer. The officer arrested the robber and charged him with grand larceny. The thief was an 18-year-old male student attending the High School for Language and Diplomacy. The stolen cell was an iPhone 5 valued at $300, equipped with a rubber case costing $25.

Withdrawal Deceit

Someone stole $2,100 from a woman's checking account. At 4:29 p.m. on Monday, October 21, a 41-year-old woman living on East 90th Street reported to police that $2,100 had been fraudulently removed from her checking account. She provided police with a copy of the withdrawal receipt.

Cycle Cell Disease

A man on a bicycle stole a tourist's cell phone. At 9:34 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, a 27-year-old tourist woman visiting from Poligon, Turkey was walking eastbound on East 72nd Street when a man approached her on a bicycle from behind and snatched her cell phone from her hand. She did not get a good look at the man's face. The phone actually belonged to her cousin, who was away in another country. Police searched the area but were unable to find the robber or her phone. A video camera may have captured the incident. The stolen phone was a black iPhone 4 valued at $200.

The Pity by the Bay

On Friday, October 18, a 77-year-old man living on East 76th Street got a call from his credit card company notifying him of a $14,876 purchase attempt. An unknown perpetrator had used the man's name, date of birth, Social Security number and other information. The purchase attempt was made online and in San Francisco. The man had not given anyone permission or authorization to use his credit card, and he still had the card in his possession. He subsequently canceled the card and, fortunately, was not held responsible for the fraudulent charges.